Speed a factor in soldier's death

Joe Gulick

Wednesday

May 30, 2012 at 10:13 PM

Army Specialist Travis Shane Penney, a 22-year-old Fort Hood soldier from Lubbock, was killed Saturday night when he lost control of his motorcycle on a curve in Belton, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The motorcycle went off the road and hit a fence post shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday, said DPS trooper Halpin Myers. Penney was dead at the scene.

"A witness said he was going too fast for the conditions on the curve," Myers said.

The DPS investigation is ongoing, and investigators have not yet calculated the speed of Penney's motorcyle, he said.

The speed limit on the curve was 40 mph, Myers said.

Penney and a buddy were riding their motorcycles together at the time of the wreck. The friend's motorcycle was behind Penney's, and the friend was not injured in the accident, according to the DPS.

Penney entered active duty service in August 2008 as an infantryman and was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2009 to January 2010 and Operation New Dawn from May 2011 to December 2011, according to a press release from Fort Hood.

Penney's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign star.

He also received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-Wheeled Vehicles, according to the release.

To comment on this story:

joe.gulick@lubbockonline.com • 766-8758

leesha.faulkner@lubbockonline.com • 766-8706

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